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The false alarm is believed to have been caused by human error, but this remains unconfirmed.

Democratic Congresswoman for Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard tweeted: "Hawaii - this is a false alarm. There is no incoming missile to Hawaii. I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile."

Sirens sounded as residents scrambled to find cover, while TV stations issued a chilling message calling on residents to stay in their homes.

In a statement, US Pacific command tweeted: "U.S. Pacific Command has detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii.

"Earlier message was sent in error.

"State of Hawaii will send out a correction message as soon possible."

One person wrote on Twitter: “Good luck to whoever issued the false ballistic missile warning in Hawaii. I bet heads will roll.”

Some were furious at the false alarm, with residents reportedly crying in the streets over the panic.

Hawaii State Rep. Matt LoPresti said: “We took shelter immediately.

“I was sitting in the bathtub with my children saying our prayers.

“ I'm extremely angry right now."

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An alert confirming there was no threat was issued roughly 45 minutes later

Fearful residents scrambled to try and understand what was happening as the alert was issued.

One wrote: "Please pray for my aunt in Hawaii, they are currently hiding due to missile threats".

Another added: "I’m in a parking lot in Waimea, Hawaii right now and everyone’s phones are buzzing with a warning about an incoming missile threat and “This is not a drill” language. Info? Anyone?"

Honolulu hairdresser Jamie Malapit texted his clients to let them know he would be cancelling their appointments following the alert.

Speaking to the LA Times, he said he was still "a little freaked out" despite learning it was a false alarm.

He said: "I woke up and saw missile warning and thought no way. I thought, 'No, this is not happening today.

"I went from panic to semi-panic and 'Are we sure?'"

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Sirens also sounded out across the island

In August last year the US conducted its own missile test just hours after North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over Japan before crashing into the sea.

A medium-range missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii, during a flight test on August 29.

The target was successfully blasted out of the sky by SM-6 missiles, which were fired rom the USS John Paul Jones, one of the US Navy’s top destroyers.

Missile Defence Agency director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said: “We are working closely with the fleet to develop this important new capability, and this was a key milestone in giving our Aegis BMD ships an enhanced capability to defeat ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.

“We will continue developing ballistic missile defence technologies to stay ahead of the threat as it evolves.”